Mdluli must explain home upgrade

Politics / 17 June 2012, 12:36pm

SAPA

(File image) Richard Mdluli. Photo: Steve Lawrence

Suspended crime intellience head Lt-Gen Richard Mdluli will have to explain why R150,000 of police funds was used to upgrade security at his house when he appears before a disciplinary hearing in July, the City Press reported on Sunday.

The ten charges Mdluli faces were revealed in court papers filed by former acting police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in the Johannesburg Labour Cout this week.

The charges against him relate to his alleged abuse of a crime intelligence “slush fund”, that he misled investigations into 250

covert appointments of crime intelligence operatives, and appointed family members and friends to police positions.

The charge sheet states that Mdluli allegedly spent R150,209 on security upgrades at his Boksburg home, authorised air travel fo his wife and children to the value of R84,199, and spent R46,809 on a business class ticket for his wife.

Mdluli remains suspended from the police service pending various court actions.

The Labour Court case in which Mdluli is challenging his suspension is due to be heard this week.

Last year, Mdluli faced fraud and corruption charges for the misuse of the fund, and faced a murder charge for the death of his former lover's husband. The charges led to his initial suspension. This year, all the charges were withdrawn and Mdluli was reinstated in March. This was widely criticised by, among others, the Democratic Alliance and lobby group Freedom Under Law. Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa later moved him to a different division but Mkhwanazi opted to suspend him.

The suspension was lifted by the Labour Court on June 01 but subsequently overturned by the same court. - Sapa